July 18th

Applejack and Twilight stepped off the train in Las Pegasus. As soon as their hooves touched the platform, they were greeted by a blue blur that ran straight into AJ, tackling her to the ground.

“Aww yeah! ‘Bout time you guys showed up!” Rainbow Dash was beaming at the sight of her best friends. At this point, she had AJ pinned.

Twilight chuckled at her friend’s enthusiasm, but cut herself off as soon as she saw that Applejack was sweating profusely and going into convulsions.

Dash noticed this as well, and raised an eyebrow. “Yo, Applejack... y’alright?”

Applejack blushed. “I- I’m- Uh- are ya’ gonna get off me?” she asked. It sounded as if she was genuinely concerned.

The realization suddenly hit Dash what she was reminding Applejack of, and she proceeded to jump from her position and back away quickly. Dash cantered up to Twilight and cleared her throat.

“So, Twi... doing good?” Rainbow grinned nervously, trying to break the tension.

Clearing her throat, Twilight tried to smile, but it came across as more of a grimace. “Yeah, things are...Erm. They will be good, anyway. I hope.” Turning to Applejack, Twilight offered a hoof to help her up. “So...this is Las Pegasus, huh?”

Applejack got to her hooves and brushed herself off, the blush barely fading from her face. “It’s... kinda nice. I guess.”

Dash laughed. “Well, the parts that are awesome, at least. There are some places to avoid, but yeah, it’s pretty cool.” Dash breathed in and sighed. “So...” she looked back and forth between AJ and Twilight, “...whaddya guys wanna do? I could show you my place, or Booster’s gym, or...” Dash motioned to both mares trying to get some kind of answer out of them.

“Why don’t ya’ show us the town?” Applejack said quickly. “Boy, I heard they got some, uh, lights. And games. And stuff...”

Dash beamed. “Oh yeah! And shows! That’s perfect! We’ll see a show. I know just the thing. My boss said it’s the best...”

“The best” just so happened to be Sex: by Sapphire Shores Live! at Fancy’s Palace. Needless to say, Rainbow felt like a fool.

During the spectacular display of beautiful mares in tight spandex and leotards cavorting in suggestive poses set to Shores’s most sexual songs, Rainbow looked over to her two friends, both of whom looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.

Twilight wasn’t sure her face had ever felt so hot. She warred between the desire to touch her cheeks to check and remain as inconspicuous as possible. She tried to distract herself by looking to her friends instead of the dancing mares on stage, but when she did that, her mind wandered back to a certain dream and she decided she’d rather be watching the show.

Applejack’s eyes never left the stage, though the look on her face wasn’t so much interest as terror. The ponies in front of her might have been bringing up thoughts she’d been trying to avoid, but for her, looking to her friends was going to make those thoughts much worse.

Dash simply loathed herself at the moment. Old habits die hard, huh? You wanna talk it out with them and you do this to them. Congrats, we have another addition to the fuckup list!

Dash decided to try and rectify her mistake. She reached over to Twilight, who was sitting next to her, and gave a tap on her thigh, which sent the alicorn shivering in pure terror. Dash grimaced. Make that two.

“Oh!” Twilight shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. “Rainbow, you startled me.” She smiled thinly. “This show is...something. Educational. I...didn’t know mares could bend like that.” She cleared her throat nervously. “Anyway, yes?”

“You wanna get out of here?” Dash whispered.

“That would...” she coughed. “Yes, yes I really, really do.”

Dash nodded and pointed over to AJ. “Tell her.”

Twilight tapped Applejack on the shoulder.

“Wha?” Applejack jumped a little. “Uh, great show. Real... fascinatin’”

"AJ," Dash whispered over. "We're splitting, come on." Dash hopped out of her seat and excused herself into the aisle.

Twilight gave Applejack a strained smile and stood up, following Dash towards the exit. She caught up and whispered quietly, “Thanks, Rainbow.”

Applejack came up behind them, putting her hat on as soon as she was clear of the audience and joining the two as they exited the theater. “Well, that was somethin’ ya’ don’t see every day.”

The group burst out the front door and was greeted by the warm air of the Las Pegasus strip. It was a fairly hot afternoon, even by Las Pegasus standards.

Dash decided to use this to break the tension. Doing an exaggerated wipe of her brow, she exclaimed, “Woo! It’s hot out here, but it’s chillier out here than in there!”

The joke elicited no reaction from either AJ or Twilight. Either they didn’t catch on to the double entendre... or worse, did catch on and were too embarrassed to make comment.

Rainbow sighed and looked at the two with remorse. “Guys, look... this really wasn’t how I wanted to break the ice. I just...” Dash was stuck with trying to figure out what to say next. She looked over at AJ and Twilight who were still blushing and sweating.

Fuck it. Dash decided. I’ll stick to what I know.

Rainbow smirked. “But you gotta admit. That. Was. Hawt.”

Twilight snorted despite herself and shook her head. “Quite the prank, Rainbow.”

Rainbow scoffed. “What? You thought I planned this? I just heard Booster tell me the show was good, I didn’t know it would have everything you’ve ever dreamed of, Twi.” Dash chuckled to herself.

Twilight thought her face was warm inside the show. She swallowed thickly and dropped her gaze to the ground, shuffling her hooves. An unintelligible whimper escaped her throat.

Applejack just rolled her eyes. Of course Rainbow Dash would do something like this; there was nothing off limits for that pony. Noticing Twilight’s discomfort, Applejack felt the tiniest bit guilty. “It wasn’t that bad, sugarcube. I mean, I reckon they were wearin’ more clothes than we are.”

Twilight cleared her throat several times and barked out, “Anypony hungry? I’m hungry. Can we go somewhere to eat? And stop talking about this? Erm. I mean..” She shook her head again and smiled. “Thanks for the show, Rainbow, what’s next?”

Dash chuckled. “All right, I budge. I’ll take you guys out to a place where there are no beautiful mares for miles...”

Smoke filled Rainbow’s nostrils as she whiffed the air of the crowded, dimly-lit tavern.

The dive was a working class pub in the outskirts near the city. True to Dash’s word, the place was mostly packed with stallions getting off their shifts at various blue collar jobs.

“This also works good because I’m basically broke.” Dash chuckled and grinned at AJ and Twilight, who were sitting on the other side of the table at a booth in the corner of the restaurant.

“Maybe ya’ didn’t need them hundred dollar sunglasses,” Applejack said with a smirk, looking over the plastic menu.

Dash rolled her eyes. “Those are as essential to being cool. Just like a... what are those metal things that your brother wears? Are those like some kinda kinky deal?”

Applejack shook her head. “That’s for pullin’ a plow, Dash. Ya’ know, farm work?”

“Ohhh.” Dash nodded. “Well, that’s disappointing.” She chuckled and glanced over to Twilight.

Twilight looked up from the menu and rolled her eyes. “Really, Rainbow?” She chuckled and looked back down. “Anything you recommend here?”

Dash shrugged. “It’s a dive bar. They don’t exactly have top quality stuff. I’m just getting their hay bacon burger.”

Twilight wrinkled her muzzle in distaste. “I hope the house salad isn’t too wilted.” She refolded the menu and sat up straight, glancing back and forth from Dash to Applejack. “So...”

Dash shrugged. “So... good train ride?”

“Yeah. It was nice.” Applejack continued looking at her menu longer than necessary, obviously peeking over it at her friends every few seconds.

Twilight tapped her hooves together nervously and dropped her gaze. “Yeah, it was fine. Quiet.”

Dash smirked. “So, boring, huh? Shame. As for me, I’ve just been busy with work and stuff waiting for you guys to show up. After all that crap with the letters, it was nice to just have some days where all I worried about was my job.”

Applejack blushed and set down her menu with a sigh. “Girls, I... I can’t tell ya’ how sorry I am ‘bout that. I never shoulda got in that state, and I never shoulda sent those letters.”

Twilight sighed and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I feel like a fool still, for not getting it when it was right in front of me.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “Look, Twi. Just because I say ‘flirting’ doesn’t mean... like, what I meant was...” She clenched her teeth and smacked her lips. “Yeah, I got nothing.”

All three shuffled uncomfortably in their seats and did their best to look anywhere but at each other. As the silence stretched out from unsettling to painful, they were saved by an approaching waiter.

“What’ll it be?” the bored looking stallion asked.

“Hay bacon burger. Rare.” Dash looked to AJ and Twilight, who were giving her incredulous looks. “Hey, I’m no wimp.” Dash looked back to the stallion. “Toss in some onion rings and hay fries with that.”

Applejack shrugged. “Country fried squash, biscuits, hay fries, and... ya’ got any pie?”

“Cherry,” the waiter replied.

“A slice of cherry pie,” Applejack finished with a nod.

Twilight gave Applejack a bewildered look. She shrugged helplessly and turned back to the waiter. “I’ll just have a house salad, please. Do you have low fat dressing?”

The waiter shook his head apologetically.

Sighing, Twilight mumbled, “The regular ranch dressing, then.” Collecting their menus, the stallion left the group and they lapsed back into silence.

Dash sighed and tapped her hoof to the table rapidly. For three relatively extroverted mares who had a great deal to talk about, discussion was certainly being a challenge for the group.

“So...” Dash began. “Uh... work’s going pretty good. I got two more kids flying this week.” Dash’s smile gradually widened as she spoke of this.

“How do ya’ do it?” Applejack asked, looking at Dash with confusion and wonder.

Dash shrugged. “I guess I just think back to when I was their age. I pretty much taught myself, so it was mostly trial-and-error. So I give them a lot of freedom on the field and let them know anything if they have any questions. Also, yelling at them to light a fire under their ass doesn’t hurt either.” Rainbow smirked at the last remark.

“I didn’t mean that, though I reckon that’s great. I meant, how do ya’ just give up the most important dream in your life, and sit there happy as a clam?” Applejack shook her head. “I just can’t believe...” she trailed off.

Dash looked surprised. “I’m doing important stuff, AJ. I mean, yeah, I always talked big about the Wonderbolts, but that was always just a dream. Dreams can always change. I thought you’d be happy for me.” Rainbow looked over to Twilight. “You’re happy for me, right?”

Twilight smiled warmly at her friend. “To be honest, you had me rather frightened at first, but...I am, Rainbow. I really think what you’re wanting to do is a wonderful idea. Helping foals...it’s just so noble.” Her grin widened. “I meant it in that letter; I’m very proud of you.”

Applejack put her face in her hoof. “I’m happy for ya’ too, sugarcube. I just don’t- I couldn’t- I don’t know how- oh, ponyfeathers.” Applejack sighed.

Rainbow’s look saddened as she reached a hoof of her’s to AJ’s. She looked her friend right in the eyes. “AJ, what’s up?”

Applejack bit her lip and stared into Dash’s eyes for a few seconds before drawing a breath and blurting out, “I like you. I mean, I like like you, and I like Twilight that way too- well, not just the same way. And I reckon if you can do somethin’ crazy ‘cause of some dream and have it just... work out, I might as well try it, too. I like ya’ both. So there.” Applejack laughed at herself and leaned back, throwing her foreleg across the back of booth.

Dash didn’t know what to say. Her nightmares were becoming reality. You just live to fuck with these two, don’t you?

Twilight cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “Well...I already said so much in my letters, but...well, I’ve had some...other things I’ve been thinking about recently...I like both of you, too.” She turned to Applejack, frowning thoughtfully. “You’re right...it’s definitely different. I don’t feel the same way about you as I do about Rainbow, but...” She smiled wanly. “They’re both good feelings. Really good feelings.” She turned back to Dash, her gaze almost pleading. “What about you, Rainbow? I know you’ve said that nopony really knows what’s going on in their own heads, but...?”

Dash sighed. “AJ, you were the mare in that fuck dream I was telling you about. I had it after reading that one letter you sent me... I knew I was the pony you were talking about. I knew I was driving you away from Twilight, but... I still had that dream anyway.” Dash groaned and put her head in her hooves. “I can’t get it right with either of you. I’m messing with your minds and confusing everypony.”

“You don’t get to do this, Rainbow Dash.” Applejack frowned. “It ain’t fair to fly around, doin’ whatever you want, crashin’ and gettin’ back up, then get worried when I do what I wanna do for once in my darn life. If it’s so scary to watch, how do ya’ think I feel lookin’ at you?”

“I just... don’t wanna lose either of you. You guys pull me out of some really bad places.” Dash’s voice was weak and monotone, as her energy had been drained by all the angst.

Twilight frowned with concern and leaned forward across the table. “You can’t beat yourself up over this. Remember, Rainbow. I didn’t get it when you were flirting with me. This is me thinking about it all on my own.” She glanced sidelong at Applejack. “I think this is both of us thinking all on our own.”

Applejack nodded. “Most of our letters ain’t exactly been flirtin’, but that didn’t stop me from dreamin’ of you. All you did to cause this was bein’ yourself at me, as hard as ya’ could. I don’t reckon I can blame ya’ for that.”

Rainbow scoffed. “Okay, so the very fact that I’m myself is the cause of all this drama. Thanks a lot, AJ, I feel great about myself!” Dash’s voice was rising in anger and irritation.

“I do believe the real cause of this drama is that I can’t hold my liquor,” Applejack shot back.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Rainbow. You were yourself at us. We happen to like you.” She sighed. “...More than I was expecting.” She shook her head and looked back up at the pegasus, her gaze hard set. “You’re acting like this was something between me and Applejack that you’re getting in the middle of. That’s not what’s going on. This is about all three of us; we’re confused and hurting from being apart and we’re trying to come to terms with all of this. What are your feelings? They’re important, too.”

Dash sighed. “Twi... why do you gotta be so smart?” She lifted her head and made eye contact. “And I don’t just mean in a regular egghead way, either. I mean in just everything.” Dash smiled. “You always know just what to say just to bring me out of a funk. I feel like I can tell you just about anything. You make everything awesome when I need it to be awesome.” Rainbow turned her gaze over to Applejack.

“AJ... you get me. Better than I get myself, really. And I feel like I get you in a lotta ways too. I used to think you were just all high and mighty, looking down on me, but... there’s so much more to you. So much of what I want to be, and so much I can’t be. I meant what I said in that letter, by the way. If you need to crash, then crash into me. I’ll be there for you.”

Dash sighed as she leaned back into her seat. “...Oh yeah, and you guys are really hot, too.”

Twilight felt her face grow warm and glanced back and forth between the two mares, trying to force away memories of a certain rather graphic dream. She cleared her throat a couple times and looked down at the table. “...I guess we’re all in the same boat, then.”

Applejack nodded, her expression serious. “I reckon we are. The question is, where do we wanna take it?”

Dash blew an indecisive raspberry and shrugged. “We could all just fuck and see if it gets outta our systems... or that could just make things more confusing, either or.”

Just then, the waiter walked up with a tray carrying their orders. Dash took her food with no fuss, while Applejack and Twilight turned bright red and somehow managed to get their plates to the table without looking at the waiter or their friends.

Once the waiter was safely out of earshot, Applejack rolled her eyes at Dash, “Let’s call that one ‘plan b.’ I ain’t against it, but for some ponies there’s more to this than gettin’ two hot mares in the sack. I like you two, and I wanna know if I love ya’.”

Twilight closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. “Okay...so I had this dream the other day, and...” She coughed and shook her head forcefully. “Umm...yeah, what Applejack said.”

Dash sighed. “So... now what?”

“I suppose we talk, while we’re here. And we write more letters, and we see how this works.” Applejack chuckled. “I never thought I’d end up courtin’ two good mares, but I guess I did somethin’ right.”

Dash smirked triumphantly. “You’re on.” She looked to Twilight. “Twi, you in?”

Smiling faintly, Twilight asked, “What’ve we got to lose?”

Rainbow smacked the table. “Alright, we have a game plan! Weird, experimental three-way thing experiment on three! One! Two! Three!”

Dash was the only one to raise a hoof and proclaim “Weird, experimental three-way thing experiment!” Seeing only blank expressions from Twilight and Applejack, Dash sheepishly lowered her hoof and put focus onto her burger, not looking at either of her new suitors.

Applejack and Twilight looked to each other, unsure of what to say, before AJ started to giggle slightly. Twilight soon followed suit, and eventually, both mares were in the throes of uncontrollable laughter.

Dash looked up and saw this. Initially embarrassed, the pegasus soon found herself widely grinning. Before long, she too found herself in caught in the infectious guffawing.

Rainbow clapped her hooves together and looked satisfied. "Alright, so we doing this?"

AJ and Twilight nodded to Dash.

"Awesome."

"Great!" Twilight proclaimed. "Umm, can we eat now?"

AJ laughed. "I'm feelin' ya. Let’s eat!"

Thus, the three friends, with their new arrangement set, ate in peace.

Author's Note

This was written in collaboration with bookplayer and Jake Roberts. Once again, being up to date with The Mailbox is probably necessary to follow anything.